Johannesburg - A Howick gardener and his associate on Thursday pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the murder of his employers Allan and Martha O'Neale.

Bob Boy Alfred Ntuli, 23, and friend Bhekumndeni Andrias Mkhize, 24, appeared in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg for the O'Neale murders, housebreaking with intent to rob and aggravated robbery.

The couple's bodies were found burnt in a plantation in September last year.

Ntuli and Mkhize pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

According to the indictment, the pair allegedly broke into the O'Neales' home while they were away and lay in wait for them.

Martha was the first to arrive. They overpowered and strangled her after forcing her to reveal the pin numbers of her bank cards.

Allan was also forced to give them bank card pin numbers and then fatally beaten.